Well drilling machine



Jan. 17, 1933. e. R. WATSON WELL DRILLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 4, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet {11W (If/Way;

Jan. 17,1933. R, AT ON 1,894,432

WELL DRILLING MACHINE Filed No v. 4. 19's; 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 flew e 2112f)? wm V v g; 2%; 3 #AW 4 fin/15w Jan. 17, 1933. G. R. WATSON I WELL DRILLING MACHINE f5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 4, 1951 P t nted Jan. 17, 1933 GEORGE B. WATSON, OF WATEBLOO, IOWA I WELL DRILLING MACHINE Application'flled November 4, 1931. Serial No. 572,888.

' This invention relates to machines for drills ing wells of various kinds and particularly to that type of drilling machine inwhich a steel cable is employedfor lifting and drop- 6 ping the drilling tool. The primary object of the present invention is to rovlde means for' insulating the machine rame against vibration and shock which may be set up through percussion of. the drilling tool and transmitted through the steel cable by which the tool is carried, such insulation being provided for the purpose of preventing in ury and damage to the frame.

More specifically the object of the invention is to provide vibration insulation for all sheaves and drums carried by the frameand engaged'by the steel cable, thereby preventing the sharp vibration waves which are set up by the impact of the on rock, from being transmitted through the steel cable to the machine frame and thereby minimizing the crystallizing action of the metal parts of the frame. the invention is to provide vibration insulation for sheaves and cable drumsusedon excavating shovels and drag lines or other heavy machinery.-

Still another object is to provide improved.

means for insulating the peripheral portion of a sheave or drum from its hub portion which has contact through a shaft or thelike with a machine 'frame.

With these and other objects in' view my invention consists in the construction, ar- 5 rangement and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and

illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in-

which: I

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of a well drilling machine embodying my improvements.

Figure 2 1s a diametrical section through a sheave provided with vibration msulation.

drilling tool, particularly Another object of operation -Figure 3is an elevation of the same on a reduced scale, partly in section, 1011 the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of a cable rovided with one type of vibration 5( insulation.

Figure 5 is an enlargedend elevation of the same, partly in section, on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Fi re 6 is an end elevation of an insulated drum of modified form.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal section of the same on the line 77 of Figure 6.

Figure 8.is an end elevation of a further modified form of insulated drum employing a'pneumatic insulating means; and

Figure 9'is a longitudinal section of the same on the line9-9 of Figure 8.

In drilling machines of the type under consideration, it is cus omary to employ a. drilling tool adapted or repeated impact with earth or rock, said tool being carried by a rope or cable, which a xtends over suitably arranged sheaves an is adapted to be wound upon a drum carried by a machine frame. The tool is alternatelylifted and dropped by of suitable mechanism, and is advanced and retracted relative to the work by turning of the drum to unwind or wind a portion of the cable relative thereto. 7

For some time it has been known that it is more economical to employ a steel cable for carrying the drilling tool, because the initial cost is considerably less than that of a rope made of manila, hemp or the like, and because a steel cable will last much longer than a rope. 'l here is another advantage in the use of a steel cable in securing more rapid action ofthe drilling tool and thereby increasing the drilling action because a faster motion is obtainable, particularly when the drilling tool is working in fluid-where the natural buoyancy of a rope would somewhat retard the action.

However, there has heretofore been a vital problem and dificulty when usin a steel cable in that it tends to transmit t e shock of the impact of the drilling tool, particularly when drilling rock,'thereby setting up sharp vibration waves which are transmitted readily throu h the steel cable to the frame of the mac ine. This vibration results in injury and damage to the frame because of the crystallizing action on the metal. There have been some attempts to remedy this difliculty by using wooden frames for the machine or wooden parts for the frame, which expedient is not at all satisfactory for obvious reasons.

My present invention contemplates the use of vibration insulation in connection withall sheaves and drums carriedby the machine frame and contacted by the drillin cable. The insulating means is interposed etween the peripheral part of the sheave or drum which is contacted by the cable, and the hub portion which is in engagement with the machine frame through a shaft or the like.

' All members which are engaged by the cable are thus insulated with suitable means for absorbing the shock'and vibration, thus rendering it possible to use a steel cable and at the same time prevent the transmission of the vibration waves to the frame of the machine, thereby overcoming the dificulties' hereinbefore mentioned. In Figure 1 I have illustrated, more orv less conventionally, a well drilling machine comprising a main frame 10 movably carried by an suitable means, such "as a caterpillar true 12. The frame 10 carries at one end, which is designated as the forward end, a super-structureor derrick 14 suitably supported and braced. The frame also carries a winding drum, designated generally by the numeral 16, and a wrist or crank wheel. 18.

The drillin tool is represented at 20 and it is supported by a steel cable 22 which ex tends upwardly over a sheave 24 rotatably mounted at the top of the derrick 14. The cable then passes downwardly around a direction sheave 26, located at the upper forward portion of the frame and carried by the free end of a so-called spudding beam 27, which is pivoted at its rear end to the main frame on the shaft 30 of the sheave 28. The cable then passes around the direction sheave 28 and thence to the drum 16 upon which a portion is wound. B rota movements of the drum 16, the too 20 is ifted to inoperative position,or lowered toward the work and gradually advanced as the work progresses.

The sheaves 24, 26 and 28 may be alike in .construction, each being provided with suitable means for insulating against vibration. The construction of these sheaves is illustrated in detail in Figures 2 and 3 and will now be described.

The numeral 30 designates the shaft or aeeaeaa spindle on which the sheave is mounted for rotation, said shaft being carried by the frame or by its super-structure 14, which really forms a part of the frame.

The pulley or sheaves includes a hub portion 32 surrounding the shaft and preferably having a bronze bushing 34 interposed thereetween. Extending outwardly from the center of the hub 32 is a web 36 which terminates in an annular enlargement or rim 37 The portion 37 preferably is formed with aeentral, outwardly projectinrib 38.

he peripheral portion 0% the sheave is formed separately from the hub and it includes an annular plate 40, having on its outer face a substantially ide 42. The annular plate 40 may be ormed on its inner periphery with an inwardly projecting the rib. 38 on the rim 37 of the hu The annular plate 40 of the part of the hub 1s of materiall ameter than the rim 37 of the hug peripheral greater diportion and suitable vibration insulating means is inter- In the pres means consists on opposite sides of the median line of the sheave and are separated slightl b the ribs 38 and 44. y y

The cushioning rings 46 and 48 are clamped and held in place by means of a air of'clamping rings 50 and 52, one locate on each side of the sheave, and held conjointly in place by means of a series of bolts or the like 54, assing through openings in said rings and in the rim portion 37 of the hub.

The cushioning rings 46 and 48 may be of any suitable shape in section and are here own as being beveled on their outer faces and at their inner peripheries, these beveled portions being engaged by inclined parts 56,

formed at the outer peripheries of the clampmg rings.

The cushioning rings 46 and 48 preferably are placed under some tension or compression when the bolts 54 are drawn up tightly and said -cushioning rings serve to provide an operative connection between the peripheral and hub portions of the sheave and at the same time to insulate one part from the other so that vibration and shock imparted to the periphery will not be transmitted to the hub. i I

It will be understood that other specific forms of vibration insulating means for the V-shaped cable I pulleys may be provided and the form herein struction which may .be employed for thewinding drum or reel in order to accomplish the purposes of myinvention.

In this form of the drum the numeral 58 is employed to designate the drum shaft which is suitably journaled in the frame and to which turning movement may be imparted from the jack shaft 59 by means of a gear 60 keyed to the drum shaft, through suitable clutch connections (not shown). The ]ack shaft 59 is 0 erated by an engine located under the hoo 61, by a drive belt enclosed in the housing 63.

The reel as here shown has two compartments, namely a storage space A upon which any surplus cable may be wound and a working space B which preferably carries not more than a single layer of the cable, and relative to which the cable is wound and. un-

wound for raising and lowering the drilling tool.

The body of-the reel is made up' of a pi e or tube 62 which is arranged concentrica ly P of, and spaced from, the drum shaft 58' and extends throughout the two compartments A and B of the reel or drum.

The outer end of the drum member A is defined by an annular head plate 64, and the outer end of the part B is defined by a similar member 66, while the two spaces are separated by an annular partition 68 fixed to and carried by the center portion of the tube 62.

It will be observed that the head plates 64 and 66 are formed with central openings 70 which are of sufficient diameterto separate the inner peripheries of the head plates at all times from the shaft 58 and to prevent any contact therewith.

The working space B of the drum is provided with an enlarged body composed of a c lindrical member 72 surrounding that portion of the tube 62 between the head plate 66 and partition plate 68 and preferably having a corrugated outer surface for engagement by the cable.

At each end of the drum there is provided a hub member which is secured to the shaft 58, these hub members being designated respectively as 74 and 76 and the securing means being in the form of keys 78. The hub members 74 and 76 are of material thickness in a direction axially of the drum and preferabl are frusto conical, or somewhat tapere on their outer surfaces. The hub members 74 and 76 are definitely spaced at their inner ends from the adjacent head plates 64 and 66 so that there is no actual physical contact between said hub members and the reel portion of the drum. t

Insulating or cushioning rings 80 and 82 are mounted inengagement with the sloping faces of the hub members 74 and 76 respectively and they have their inner ends-in engagementw'ith the outer faces of the head p1ates64 and 66. The insulating rings 80. and 82 maybe formed of rubber, rubber composition or other suitable cushioning ma terial.

The cushioning rings 80and 82 are engaged and held in place respectively by metallic clamping rings 84 and 86, which are secured .to the head plates 64 and 66 respectively by means of a series of bolts 88.

The cushioning rings 80 and 82preferably I are formed-withsloping inner faces to conform to the sloping sides of the hub members WhlOh they engage and also are formed with W sloping outer sides which are engaged by corresponding sloping inner faces of the clamping rings.- The parts are so formed that when the clamping rings are mounted in place and are drawn up tightly, by means of he bolts 88, the cushioning rings 80 and 82 are placed under compression and tension so that'a snug driving fitis provided. Sufiicient frictional engagement is thereby produced to insure that'turning movement imarted to the shaft- 58 will be passed on through the hub members 74 and 76, cushionmg rings 80 and 82 and clamping rings 84 and 86 to the head plates 64 and 66 whereby the reel portion of the drum will be rotated. In other words, the cushioning rings 80 and 82 are employed as a means for absorbing torsional shock and strain as well as radial strain, and it will be observed that the reel portion of the drum is permitted to have some radial-movement relative to the shaft 58 and without contacting therewith because -of the central apertures 70 of the head plates and the complete spacing of all other members of the reel assembly from the shaft.

The only parts wh ch have actual contact means of the cushioning rings 80 and 82 and n thus assurance is bad that no vibration imparted'to the cablewill be transmitted to the frame of the machine.

In Figures 6 and 7 I have illustrateda modified form of insulated drum which has the same general characteristics. This form of the drum includes several members which are, or may be, identical with those previously described, including the shaft 58, tubular ,body62, head plates 64 and 66, partition plate 68 and windingdrum body 72.

The hub members, cushioning means and clamping rings of this particular drum are somewhat different and the hub members are designated generall by the numerals 90 and 92, each being keye to the shaft by a key 94.

The hub members 90 and 92 .are spaced from their respective head plates 64 and lit 66 and each of said hub members is formed with a series of outwardly pio ectmg radial fins 96.

Clamping rings 98 and 100 are provided one located outside of each hub member an suitably spaced therefrom. Each clamdpmg ring is formed with a series of space mwardly projecting radial fins 102, which alternate with the fins of the respective hub members. The ends of the fins 96 are spaced at all times from the inner faces of the clamping rings and the ends of the fins 102 are s t e hub members so that there is no physical contact between the metal parts thus 1nvolved. Between the hub members 90 and 92 and the clamping rings 98 and 100 respectively are mounted a series of cushioning blocks 104 which are also interposed between and separated by the alternating fins 96 and 102 of the said members. The cushioning blocks may be made of any suitable insulatingmaterial as hereinbefore referred to and 1t is their function to cushion and insulate that portion of the drum which is engaged by the cable from the portion which engages the shaft and the machine frame.

The primary purpose of the alternating fins '96 and 102 on the two parts of the drum is to provide a positive driving means whereby rotary driving force from the shaft 58 is transmitted through the hub members and their fins 96 to the cushioning blocks 104 and thence to the fins 102 of the clamping rings 98 and 100, which are secured to the respective head plates 64 and 66 by means of a series of bolts 106.

Otherwise the functions of the cushioning blocks 104 are the same as previously stated M with respect to absorbing vibration from the cable and preventing it from being transmitted through the drum to the shaft and machine frame.

The construction according to Figures 8 and 9 is in many respects the same as previously described and the parts which are alike are designated by similar reference numerals. According to this construction, I employ pneumatic cushioning means between the two parts of the drum as exempllfied by a pair of casings 108 formed of rubber or a suitable composition of rubber and fabric, one of these members being located at each end of the drum and adjacent the outer face of the head plates. Each casing 108 contains an inner tube 110 which is capable of being inflated by ordinary means.

The hub members of this type of drum are designated by the numeral 112 and they are secured to the shaft 58 by keys 114. As here shown, the hub members are each made in two parts, the outer portion being secured to the inner portion by means of bolts 116 and being provided at their outer peripheries with paced at all times from the buter faces of d and to aeeaaae ing rmgs=118 are secured to the respective head plates by means-of bolts 120.

Thefunctions of the pneumatic cushioning means are the same as previously set forth with respect to absorbing and minimizing vibration and also providing a frictional riving connection between the hub members which are secured to the shaft and the clamping rings which are secured to the reel portion of the drum. In operation the drilling tool 20 is lowered to the work by permitting a portion of the cable 22 to be unwound from the reel and thereafter the tool is alternately lifted and dropped to cause repeated impact with the earth or rock to be drilled. This operation is accomplished by the wrist or crank wheel 18 which has a suitable clutch connection, not shown, with the jack shaft 59.- The wrist wheel 18 is connected by a pitman or connecting rod 19 with the free end portion of the pad to conform spudding beam 27 so that when the wheel 18 is rotated, the forward or free end portion of said beam, and with it the sheave 26, will be alternately raised and lowered. This action, slacking and retracting the forward portion of the cable 22, or in other words-the portion which extends over the upper sheave 24 the free end of which the tool is attached, will obviously cause an alternate dropping and lifting of the tool for the drilling operation. I

By employing either of the vibration insulating means which I have shown and described with respectto the drum and sheaves, or insulating means of a. similar character, I am enabled to mission of vibration from the drilling tool through the steel cable to the frame of-the drilling machine and thereby obviate the difficulty which has heretofore been present in the use of steel cables ing tool.

In other wordsby my present invention I'make it possible and practicable to employ a steel cable, with all the attendant advantages of such use, without the disadvantages which 1 have previously outlined in this specification.

I claim as my invention 1. In a drilling machine, a drilling tool, a

for-carrying the drillcable carrying the tool, a drum on which acable, to permit such portion of the drum to move independently in any radial direction. 2. A machme, comprising a frame,'a drum thereon, a cable arranged to be wound and unwound relative to the drum, sheaves on said frame over which said cable is extended,

and non-metallic cushioning means arranged between the" machine frame and the periphcral parts of the drum and sheaves engaged by said cable, to permit such peripheral parts to move independently in any radial direction, folcushioning vibration and preventing t11I1S11'1lSSlO11 of such vibration to said frame.

3. A machine, comprising a frame, a drum thereon, a cable arranged'to be wound and unwound relative to the drum, sheaves on said frame over which said cable is extended, and non-metallic vibration insulation means arranged between the hub and peripheral part of the drum as ivcll as between the hub and peripheral part.of each sheave engaged by said cable, thereby permitting said peripheral parts to yield bodily in any radial direction for cushioning vibration and preventing the transmission of such vibration to said frame.

4. A winding drum for a drilling machine employing a tool carried by a cable, comprising a shaft journaled in the frame of the machine, hub members fixed to said shaft, a reel portion concentric with and having all of its parts spaced from the shaft, and non-metallic cushioning members interposed between and forming a connecting means for the hub members and the reel portion to prevent transmission of vibration from the tool to the frame. I

5. In a drilling machinehaving a frame and employing a drilling tool carried by a cable, a shaft journaled on the frame, a hub member fixed to said shaft, a peripheral portion engaged by said cable and havingno direct contact with said shaft, and a nonmetallic cushioning means interposed between the hub members and peripheral portion to form a non-metallic connection there: between and to prevent transmission of vibration from one to the other.

6. In a drilling machine employing a cable for carrying a drilling tool, a sheave over which the cable is extended, said sheave being provided with non-metallic vibration insulating means interposed between its hub and its cable engaging peripheral portion, whereby vibration ,set up in the cable through impact of the tool is prevented from being transmitted through the'hub of the sheave to the frame of the machine.

7. A winding drum for a drilling machine" having a frame and employin atool carried by a cable, comprising a shaft journaled in said frame, a cable-receiving reel includin a pair of spaced head plates having centra openings through which said shaft extends without contact, a pair of hub members fixed to the shaft adjacent but having no metallic contact 'with said head plates, and cushioning means interposed between said hub members and the respective head plates for forming a. connection thercbetween and for preventing the transmission of vibration from one part to the other. v

8. A winding drum for a drilling machine having a frame and employing a tool carried by a cable, comprising a sha t journaled in said frame, a cable-receiving reel includin a pair of spaced head pllates having centra openings through whic said shaft extends without contact, a pair of hub members fixed to the shaft adjacent but having no metallic contact with said head plates, cushioning means arranged circumferentially and engaging the peripheries of said hub members, clamping rings engaging the radiall outer surfaces of said cushioning means,an means for securing said clamping rings rigidly to the head lates of said reel.

9. A wlnding drum for a drilling machine having a frame and employin a tool carried by a cable, comprising a she t journaled in said frame, a cable-receiving reel including a pair of spaced head plates having central openings through which said shaft extends without contact, a pair of hub members fixed to the shaft adjacent but having no metallic contact with said head plates, cushioning means arranged circumferentially and engaging the peripheries of said hub members, clamping rings engaging the radially outer surfaces of said cushioning means, means for securing said clamping rings rigidly to the head plates of said reel, said cushioning means being formed with radially arranged openings, and projections on said hub members and clamping rings for engaging in said openings.

10. A winding drum for a drilling machine having a frame and employin a tool carried by a cable, comprising a sha journaled 'in said frame, a cable-receiving reel includin a pair of spaced head plates having centra openings through which said shaft extends without contact, a pair of hub members fixed to the shaft adjacent but having no metallic contact with said head plates, cushioning means arranged circumferentially and engaging the peripheries of said hub members, clamping rings engaging the radially outer surfaces of saidcushioning means, means for securing said clamping rings rigidly to the head plates of said reel, said cushionin means being formed with radially arrange openings, and alternating projections on said hub members and clamping rings for engaging in said openings.

GEORGE R. WATSON. 

